(19) |
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(11) |
EP 0 472 941 A3 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(88) |
Date of publication A3: |
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05.04.1995 Bulletin 1995/14 |
(43) |
Date of publication A2: |
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04.03.1992 Bulletin 1992/10 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 31.07.1991 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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DE ES FR GB IT NL |
(30) |
Priority: |
31.07.1990 US 560530 31.07.1990 US 559947
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(71) |
Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC. |
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Santa Clara
California 95054-3299 (US) |
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(72) |
Inventors: |
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- Collins, Kenneth S.
San Jose
California 95037 (US)
- Roderick, Craig A.
San Jose, CA 95117 (US)
- Yang, Chan-Lon
Los Gatos, CA 95032 (US)
- Wang, David N. K.
Saratoga, CA 95070 (US)
- Maydan, Dan
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 (US)
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(74) |
Representative: Diehl, Hermann O. Th., Dr. et al |
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Diehl, Glaeser, Hiltl & Partner
Patentanwälte
Postfach 19 03 65 80603 München 80603 München (DE) |
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(54) |
VHF/UHF plasma process for use in forming integrated circuit structures on semiconductor
wafers |
(57) A method of fabricating integrated circuit structures on semiconductor wafers using
a plasma-assisted process is disclosed wherein the plasma is generated by a VHF/UHF
power source at a frequency ranging from about 50 to about 800 MHz. Low pressure plasma-assisted
etching or deposition processes, i.e., processes may be carried out within a pressure
range not exceeding about 500 milliTorr; with a ratio of anode to cathode area of
from about 2:1 to about 20:1, and an electrode spacing of from about 5 cm. to about
30 cm. High pressure plasma-assisted etching or deposition processes, i.e., processes
may be carried out with a pressure ranging from over 500 milliTorr up to 50 Torr or
higher; with an anode to cathode electrode spacing of less than about 5 cm. By carrying
out plasma-assisted processes using plasma operated within a range of from about 50
to about 800 MHz, the electrode sheath voltages are maintained sufficiently low, so
as to avoid damage to structures on the wafer, yet sufficiently high to preferably
permit initiation of the processes without the need for supplemental power sources.
Operating in this frequency range may also result in reduction or elimination of microloading
effects.